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April 30, 2012

★Me: Oh. My. Gosh! I can’t believe I have Issie, Devyn and Cassidy here on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads! I am totally star-struck! Welcome!!! We rarely get to learn much about the side characters in a book series, and I just adore all three of you! So I think it’s totally awesome that I get to ask you some questions!
☆All: Thank you so much for having us! It’s exciting. It’s usually all Zara-Devyn-Astley all the time.

★Me: If my question isn’t directed to you personally, then the question is for any of/or all three of you!
☆All: Cool.

★Me: First off, could you give me some tips on how I would know if my town has been surrounded by evil pixies?
☆Cassidy: Hearing people whispering your name is a big hint.
☆Issie: As is randomly disappearing boys or seeing blue people who are not part of the Blue Man Group.
☆Cassidy: Or the dressing up like characters from that movie where everyone was blue and nice but then the white guy came in and saved them from the other white guys.
☆Devyn: Let’s not talk about that movie. I think any time you feel as if your town has been invaded by evil pixies, it has been most likely truly invaded. However, I am writing a thesis on Invasion Scenarios of Pixies: What to look out for. It should be published soon.

★Me: Obviously, pixies are not really like Tinker Bell, so what are pixies really like?
☆Cassidy: They are like people. Some are good. Some are not-so-good.
☆Issie: Some want to kill you.
☆Devyn: There’s an entire spectrum of quirks and behaviors and morality amongst pixies when they have a strong king. However, when their king is not strong, then they are almost feral and controlled by their needs.
☆Issie: Tinker Belle is a bit like that, actually.
☆Cassidy: Weird, but true.

Me: Is there a way for me to identify if I’m face-to-face with a pixie that has its glamour hiding its true appearance?
☆Devyn: Some smell like Dove soap. Kings may leave a glistening trail of pixie dust, and an occasional queen will also leave that residue, but in general? No. There is no way to discern a glamoured pixie from a human.

★Me: How can I prepare myself for survival if my town has been taken over by evil pixies?Issie: I think the best idea is to move. My mom had me tape kitchen knives to my forearms. That didn’t really help.
☆Cassidy: Pixies are tough. They aren’t like vampires. They don’t only come out at night. But like vampires, they can’t come into your house unless you invite them inside. So, basically stay home. Don’t let anyone else in. Be a hermit.
☆Issie: That’s no way to live!
☆Cassidy: I know, but she asked the question.
☆Issie: I think the answer sounds sort of negative, no offense, Cassidy.
☆Cassidy: None taken. But the question itself is pretty negative. It’s about survival and evil pixies taking over a town.
☆Issie: I wish I could talk about bunnies or something happy. No offense, blogger! It’s just so much death all the time. I feel guilty now about complaining.
☆Devyn: It’s fine, Is.
☆Issie:
☆Cassidy: It really is.
☆Issie:
☆Cassidy: I think we may need a group hug here.

★Me: When you first learned about pixies you only knew them to be evil. How hard was it for you to accept that they are not all evil? And what’s it like to have a really good friend who is a pixie?
☆Devyn: It was hard. It is so much easier to demonize creatures as ‘other.’ And when you are in a war, it is even more tempting. You don’t want to think that your enemy has a family or has any good elements to them. You want to always be right, always be the moral one, always be ‘good.’ But there are so many shades of good and evil, and your physical nature doesn’t determine your moral integrity or your worth, not now, not ever.
☆Issie: Zara is the best friend ever. So, it’s great.
☆Cassidy: It’s really all about love. You can love anyone - pixie, were, elf, fairy, hedgehog, school superintendent. There isn’t one thing that defines ‘pixie,’ any more than there is one thing that defines ‘human.’ I think that was a good lesson to learn.

★Me: Aside from trying to rid your town of evil pixies and going to school, what do you like to do with your free time?
☆Devyn: Study. Learn. Fly.
☆Issie: What is this thing you call ‘free time?’
☆Cassidy: I’m really trying to learn about my species. And also make my own candles and incense. Zara’s always getting hurt, and I’m running out of funds to buy them all the time.

★Me: Devin and Issie! When did you realize that you had feelings for each other?
☆Devyn: Um....
☆Issie: Um....
☆Cassidy: They have liked each other forever. Look. They are blushing. That’s so cute.

★Me: Devin, how long have you known that you were a were-eagle? What were the first signs and what are the pros and cons of being a were-eagle?
☆Devyn: My parents told me as soon as I could comprehend language. Were-eagles usually turn at the age of the three, which is quite different from other weres. We tend to be not see things well at close range and jump off of furniture. As toddlers, this makes us a bit accident prone. That is a con. Other cons include: Molting, craving raw meat, vision issues obviously. Pros? Well, flight. We are quite good in fights. Talons are remarkably handy.

★Me: Cassidy, how long have you known that you were an elf? What were the first signs and what are the pros and cons of being an elf?
☆Cassidy: I had no idea until recently. The first sign is a feeling. A tingling in the hands in the shape of a circle. The sense of peace in the woods - a feeling of communion with nature. I’m not sure if I know the pros and cons of being an elf because I don’t actually know what it is to be an elf. Unlike Devyn, I’ve had no other elves to train me. I am so sorry. I don’t feel like I am answering well.

★Me: Issie, what’s it like to be the only human in your group of friends? And how do you handle that controlling mother of yours?
☆Issie: Every once in awhile not being pixie or were or elf, kind of gets to me. You sort of feel boring.
☆Devyn: You are not boring.
☆Issie: Thanks. Or unspecial.
☆Cassidy: You are not unspecial!
☆Issie: You guys are so nice. But, yeah... It’s okay. Zara’s always telling me that it’s good to be human, good to be who you are, and to accept it. But sometimes it feels limiting. I’d like to be super strong or have talons or be able to heal people. In a battle, I’m not really the best fighter, obviously. But I’m okay with that now. My mom? Oh my gosh. My mom.... Kitchen knives taped to my forearms... Let’s just say that I am looking forward to college.

★Me: Issie, you are pretty in touch with pop-culture! Who is your idol? And who is your dream man in the fame world?
☆Issie: I totally love Buffy. TOTALLY LOVE BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER!!!! Sorry. I got excited. Um... Dream man in the fame world? Other than Devyn? Devyn! Cover your ears. I kind of like the vampire guy on the UK version of Being Human.

★Me: Lastly, for all three of you…is there anything else you can tell us about yourselves that we wouldn’t learn in the Need series?
☆Cassidy: I am not always itchy. It just seems that way.
☆Issie: I like bunnies. You know that, don’t you? I am actually very good at Angry Birds. Oops! Sorry Devyn. I promised Devyn I’d stop playing that. He finds it offensive.
☆Devyn: Classic Macedonian history is amazing and my favorite thing to study.

★Me: Thank you again for stopping by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads! We all hope to see you around again soon!

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king...

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

About the author:Carrie Jones is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Need series, as well as After Obsession with Steven E. Wedel. She is a distinguished alum of Vermont College’s MFA Program, and a part-time police dispatcher in Maine.

April 29, 2012

After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel.

As some of you are already aware, I am a majorly obsessive fan of Sweet Evil! To top it all off, Sweet Evil has the hottest of all of my fictional boyfriends! Kai is so unbelievably yummy! So obviously I’m more than excited that I had the opportunity to be a part of Wendy Higgins blog tour!!! You can find my review of Sweet Evil HERE!

Me: In 10 words or less can you tell us about Sweet Evil?Wendy Higgins: A dark, sensual love story infused with angel/demon lore.

Me: How did the idea of Sweet Evil come to you?Wendy Higgins: Like a freight train to the brain. Seriously though, I think this is the hardest question to answer because I just don’t know. It was like all of my life’s experiences, all my hopes and failures, the people I’d known, the books I’d read, my spirituality, my desire to do something more with my life--it all sort of came together in that moment and I was bombarded with ideas and scenes. I spent the whole first day brainstorming, accepting some ideas, throwing others out. It was a rush of inspiration unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I wrote and wrote for seven weeks and then collapsed at around 82k, finished.

Me: Was there any research involved in writing Sweet Evil?Wendy Higgins: I read a lot about the folklore surrounding angels and demons, including Biblical commentary (although I ended up making up lots of stuff and taking liberties with names, etc). I also had to research the cross-country trip to map it and time it.
Me: How long did it take to write Sweet Evil?Wendy Higgins: The first draft took seven weeks, but as “inspired” as it was, it was terrible. Atrocious. It needed a TON of work, so I spent the next year rewriting, deleting, rewriting, revising.

Me: There is a very detailed scene (very hot) in the book where Kaidan is playing the drums. Did you have to study a sexy drummer to get the details of that scene?Wendy Higgins: Haha! Love it. In seventh grade this very quiet boy got on stage during a talent show and shocked me to the core with a passionate rendition of Tone Loc’s “Wild Thing.” I couldn’t look at him the same after that. He was suddenly mysterious and dangerous, rather than shy. I’ve had a weakness for drummers ever since.

Me: Which character was your favorite to write about and why?Wendy Higgins: Anna is my sweet girl, but Kaidan was the most fun to write. He challenged me and got in my head. I know his full story and deepest desires, but he is so guarded. It was hard to figure out how he would act to show his underlying feelings, while not giving them away verbally. Exhausting, that boy.

Me: Will Sweet Evil be a series or have a sequel?Wendy Higgins: In my mind it’s “The Sweet Trilogy.” Book two is under consideration with the publisher, and I hope to start book three very soon.Me: *fingers crossed* They better purchase the trilogy! I need more!!! Reading Sweet Evil over and over again is not enough!

Me: Do you have any ideas for another book or series?Wendy Higgins: I’ve got a book written that still needs a little work. It’s set in Ireland and centered around a magical family, faeries, and Leprechauns.

Me: Wendy, I’d like to learn more about you!

Me: Other than being a writer, what would be your all time dream job?Wendy Higgins: Ooh, how awesome would it be to be one of those people who travels the world to critique hotels and five-star restaurants? Yes, please!

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time other than writing?Wendy Higgins: Read! But those go hand-in-hand.
My biggest joy is spending time with my children. Watching them learn and grow. Sometimes I go on dates with my cutie husband, and that’s always fun. :) Every now and then I even get to have a girls’ night out with my girlfriends - woohoo!

Me: What is your guilty pleasure?Wendy Higgins: Hardback books. And new clothes.

Me: Do you have any strange quirks?Wendy Higgins: How much time do we have? lol
My worst quirk is just zoning out to imagination-land at inconvenient times (you know,writing a scene in your head while someone is trying to have a conversation with you? It’s terribly embarrassing.) I’m also ADD, so I have to write in silence, alone.

Me: What is your biggest fear or phobia?Wendy Higgins: I have too many. Most of them have to do with freak-accidents that could befall my kids--I’ve discovered I have a very demented imagination when it comes to ways to die. But personally, my absolute biggest fear is spiders. Especially those fuzzy, hairy ones. I can’t even look at pictures or watch them on television. *violent shiver*

Me: Do you have a favorite TV series?Wendy Higgins: No. :( I used to, but to be honest I haven’t watched anything regularly for two years. I used to watch television every night with my husband, but now those are my “work hours.” And I’m not a fan of daytime TV or news, so it’

Me: What are your top 5 favorite movies?Wendy Higgins:

The Shag (as in the dance from the 60’s - adorable beach movie!!)

Lucky Number Slevin

Pearl Harbor (can you tell I’m a Josh Hartnett fan?)

The Goonies

The Lost Boys

Me: What are your top 5 favorite books of all time?Wendy Higgins:
Okay, I’ll break it down by genre/topic:

(children/Middle Grade) Harry Potter series

(YA contemp/friendship) Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series

(adult romance) The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

(nonfiction) The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

(YA para-romance) Toss-up between Twilight and Vampire Academy

Me: What are your Top 5 highly recommended books you have read in the last couple years?Wendy Higgins:

Me: Do you have a fictional boyfriend from another book or book series?Wendy Higgins: I have MANY. :)
Dimitri from Vampire Academy, Four from Divergent, and Po from Graceling to name a few.

Me: Imagine our world dominated by demons, vampires, zombies and werewolves. What weapons would you keep on hand for survival? And if you would have to ally yourself with one of these creatures, which would you side with and why?Wendy Higgins: Wowza! As for weapons, a cross/crucifix might kill two birds with one stone (demons & *traditional* vampires). But how the heck do you kill a zombie? I think I’d need to find a sledgehammer, and practice my swing. I’d ally with the werewolves since they’ve got the whole “loyal dog” thing going on. I wouldn’t trust any of the others...especially the demons.Me: LMFAO..."Loyal Dog"

Me: Thank you so very much Wendy for stopping by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads and I hope that you will be able to stop by again soon! I’d really like to do a Q&A with one of your characters one day.
Wendy Higgins: Sounds awesome! And it’s been my pleasure. :) Thanks for having me, Mindy!

Publisher's Summary: Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

April 27, 2012

Publisher's Summary: On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

April 25, 2012

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday—to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"—which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time—she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

April 19, 2012

Me: I’m thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Norris author of the 2012 debut and the totally awesome Unraveling! You can find my review of Unraveling HERE! Thank you for stopping by Elizabeth!!!

Me: In 10 words or less tell us about Unraveling!Elizabeth Norris: Janelle’s fight to save her family, world, and Ben Michaels.

Me: Was Unraveling the first book you ever wrote?Elizabeth Norris: I’ve written a number of other things. Unraveling is the first to be published. Most of my previous novels are buried on my computer or still waiting for me to finish them.

Me: How did the story of Unraveling come to you?Elizabeth Norris: I was in a long distance relationship and thinking about people who were in love but were also from different worlds, and there’s something tragic and beautiful about star-crossed lovers. Similarly, I was also really looking for a thriller with science fiction elements to read, and I was having a hard time finding something, so I sat down and started writing what I wanted to read.

Me: Which character was your favorite to write about and why?Elizabeth Norris: I really like all the characters, but my favorite is Alex. He’s a good friend. He’s there for Janelle--he listens to her and supports her, but he also isn’t afraid to stand up and call her out on something if he thinks she’s wrong. Their friendship to me isn’t about him being secretly in love with her or anything, but rather it’s about the fact that they each found “family” in each other.Me: I like Alex too!

Me: Do you have a writing ritual?Elizabeth Norris: In terms of where I write, I change it up a lot. I’ll write sitting at my kitchen table, sitting on the couch, at a coffee shop, or even the New York Public Library. Doing different things keeps me from getting complacent. But every time I start writing, I reread the last scene that I wrote the day before and I edit it a little. I might change a few lines or even just fix spelling errors, but that gets me in a good mindset to keep going.

Me: Do you write on the fly or do you timeline?Elizabeth Norris: I’m a planner. When I wrote Unraveling I had about a thirty page outline that I divided up into chapter breaks so that I knew where each scene would begin and end. Some of that changed a little as I wrote, but I had a really good framework that kept me on task. I’m also very aware of how much I need to write each day in order to get the draft done on time. I don’t always meet that goal and some days I go over, but I’ve got it in the back of my mind which helps me stay on time. It’s hard to write that way, but now that I have deadlines I can’t just write whenever the mood strikes me.Me: HOLY CRAP! A 30 page timeline? Crazy!

Me: What type of background research was required for writing Unraveling?Elizabeth Norris: I did pretty minimal research. A lot of the details in Unraveling, either the science or the law enforcement aspects are things that I read about beforehand just because I found them interesting. For instance, a few years ago after watching the first season of Lie to Me, I read a lot about facial expressions and what that can tell people if they know how to look. And a friend of mine works for the FBI so I asked him a few questions about what he looks for to know people are lying, and both my research and my friend’s answers came into play a little in certain situations when Janelle was either trying to figure out if someone was telling the truth or if she was trying to lie.

I also read just about everything I could find in Scientific American and on the internet about multiverse theory, but I was never a good enough science student to really understand much of quantum physics.

Me: One of the many things I loved about Unraveling was how well you developed the characters, particularly Janelle! I felt like her reaction to life challenges were very real and I was wondering if Janelle relates to anyone you personally know?Elizabeth Norris: Janelle is a lot like me--or at least she’s a lot like the person that I wanted to be in high school. I wasn’t as tough and I cared more about what people thought of me, but there are some definite similarities.Me: I'd like to be like her too!

Me: Will there be a sequel to Unraveling?Elizabeth Norris: There will! The next book, which is titled Unbreakable will be out in 2013.Me: Yay! I can't wait!!!

Me: More personal questions:
You are in the middle of escaping an apocalypse and you can only take things you can grab that will fit in a backpack! What would be in that backpack?Elizabeth Norris: Bottled water, a swiss army knife, super glue, rope, and a heavy sweatshirt or blanket. (I get cold easily).Me: Super glue? I'm not sure what I would do with that.

Me: What is your biggest fear or phobia?Elizabeth Norris: I have some weird fears. The first one is teeth. Now, I’m not actually afraid of teeth themselves. But I get really easily weirded out when people talk about teeth or procedures that happen to or related to teeth. And I’ve had a few panic attacks when I have to go to the dentist. (I’m understating a little but it’s embarrassing).Me: This is totally FREAKIN' awesome! I was tempted to get a picture of some teeth and add it to this post...but I didn't want to scare you away. LoL

Me: What’s your guilty pleasure?Elizabeth Norris: Chocolate and sour patch kids (but not together).Me: I wonder what they would taste like together? Huh!

Me: What are your top 5 all-time fave books?Elizabeth Norris:
1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
3. Lucky by Alice Sebold
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Publisher's Summary: Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

April 18, 2012

Summary: The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series

April 16, 2012

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

I mentally stomped on the intimidation their perfection brought into my mind and said, “Excuse me.”
The group froze, startled by my words. The girls had their brows raised and the boys stopped mid-speech, mouths agape. They stared at me with eyes the shade of onyx stones.
I smiled and gave them a little wave.
The boy a step ahead of the rest recovered first. His stunning features went from shocked surprise to intense interest. He reminded me of a hawk eyeing its prey. I gulped.
“A Day Student,” he said, his eyes insolent and excited.
Something about the way he said “Day Student” made my stomach flip. “Excuse me?”
They snickered. The boys looked at each other while the girls continued to stare, muffling their laughter by delicate hands. I seemed to be the butt of some joke.
“You broke the rule.” The boy’s grin turned predatory.
The students formed a loose semi-circle in front of me. My gaze darted from face to face. Hunger filled their eyes. The image of lions about to chase down a gazelle came to mind. I mentally shook my head. I was in the mountains not the Serengeti for crying out loud.
I took a small step back and cleared my throat. “Can any of you give me a ride back to the dorms?”
The boy wagged his forefinger like a metronome. “Ah, that’s unfortunate for you.”
One of the girls pinched the bridge of her nose. “Eli, you can’t possibly—”
“It’s forbidden, Eli,” another boy interrupted, pronouncing the word “forbidden” like a curse.
The nervous murmur at the pit of my stomach grew louder. Six against one. Not good odds. Instinct told me to cut my losses and run. Bad enough I faced expulsion, now it seemed like weird, beautiful people who’d suddenly appeared on campus wanted to beat me up. No, scratch that. Judging from the way they studied me, beating me up wouldn’t satisfy them. Something more primal prowled behind their looks.
I definitely wasn’t going down without a fight. Years of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat classes had me prepared. While other children from rich and important families got bodyguards, I got defense training. But I think my father meant for my skills to go up against potential kidnappers, not against other students who may or may not be crazy. Oh God! Maybe I stepped into a parallel universe or something when I reentered Barinkoff.
“None of the students are supposed to be on campus,” I said. Then, realizing my mistake, I added, “Okay, I know I’m not supposed to be here either. If one of you gives me a ride back to the dorms, I won’t say anything about all this. Let’s pretend this never happened. I didn’t see you, you didn’t see me.”
“We’re not ordinary students,” Eli answered. “We’re the Night Students.”
He’d said “Night Students” like the words were capitalized. I didn’t know Barinkoff held classes at night. What was going on here?
Eli smiled with just one side of his mouth and said to the group, “She’s right, no one will have to know. We’re the only ones here. And it’s been so long, don’t you agree?”
The rest of them nodded reluctantly.
“What’s been so long?” I challenged. I fisted my hands, ready to put them up if any of them so much as twitched my way.
“Since the taste of real flesh passed through my lips,” Eli said. He came forward and took a whiff of me then laughed when I cringed.
“Flesh.” Yep, parallel universe.
“Yes,” he said. “And yours smells so fresh.”
Someone grabbed my shoulders from behind and yanked me back before I could wrap my mind around the meaning behind Eli’s words. In a blink, I found myself behind someone tall. Someone really tall. And quite broad. And very male.
I realized he wore the same clothes Eli and the other boys did. Not good. He was one of them. Although… I cocked my head, raking my gaze over him. He seemed born to wear the uniform, like he was the pattern everyone else was cut from. My eyes wandered to long, layered, blue-black hair tied at the nape by a silk ribbon. Even in dim light, his hair possessed a sheen akin to mercury.
I looked down. The boy’s long fingers were wrapped around my wrist like a cuff. His fevered touch felt hotter than human standards, hot enough to make me sweat like I was standing beside a radiator but not hot enough to burn.
“I must be mistaken, Eli,” the boy who held my arm said in a monotone. “Correct me. Did I hear you say you wanted to taste the flesh of this girl?”
A hush descended on us. It had the hairs at the back of my neck rising. How was it possible for the atmosphere to switch from threatening to dangerous? Unable to help myself, I peeked around the new guy’s bulk. Eli and his friends bowed. They all had their right hands on their chests.
“Demitri, I’m sure you misheard me,” Eli said.
So the guy standing between me and the person who said he’d wanted to taste me was named Demitri. I like the sound of his name. Demitri. So strong, yet rolls off the tongue. Definite yum factor.
“So, you imply I made a mistake?” Demitri demanded.
“No!” Eli lifted his gaze. “I did no such thing. I simply wanted to show the girl the consequences of breaking curfew.”
“Hey!” I yelled. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here!”
Demitri ignored my protest and continued to address Eli. “So, you threatened to taste her flesh.” His fingers tightened their grip around my wrist. “In the interest of investigating this matter further, I invoke the Silence.”
All six students gasped, passing surprised glances at one another.
Before I could ask about what was going on, Demitri yanked me down the hall toward the library. But why there? Oh, maybe we were getting my things. No, wait, he couldn’t have known about that. Everything was too confusing now.
Eli and the others didn’t try to stop us when we passed them. Demitri’s cold command must have carried power. Handsome and powerful, never a bad combination on a guy.
We reached the heavy double doors in seconds. He jerked one open effortlessly. I’d needed all my strength just to squeeze through that same door earlier. To him, the thick wood might as well have been cardboard. I raised an eyebrow and mentally listed the benefits of going to gym class.
“Why are we here?” I asked after my curiosity overpowered my worry. I’d almost forgotten how frightened I’d been right before Demitri showed up. I wasn’t above accepting help from strangers. Especially from gorgeous dark-haired strangers with hot hands and wide shoulders.
Demitri kept going, tugging me along, snaking his way deeper into the library. I had to take two steps for every stride his legs made. I tried to stay directly behind him, praying we didn’t slam into anything.
He stopped suddenly and I collided with him. It felt like slamming into a wall.
“Hey,” I said, momentarily stunned. “A little warning would be nice!”
He faced me, and I gasped. His eyes resembled a starless night, deep and endless. Their intensity drilled through me without pity, seeming to expose all my secrets. I felt naked and flustered beneath his gaze.
“You could have died back there,” he warned.
A lump of panic rebuilt itself in my throat.

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

April 15, 2012

"Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?"

I didn't then, not really.

I DO NOW.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Take: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is brilliant in so many ways! First, Julie Kagawa wrote it! Second, we have a post-apocalyptic world with vampires in control! How could it not be brilliant, amazing, awesome, horrific and gruesome?

Julie doesn’t hold back even from the very beginning of The Immortal Rules as she paints a horrid picture of the world that Allie lives in. As the story progresses it only gets so much more brutal. After a horrifically tragic attack on Allie and her crew, Allie becomes the one and only thing she hates the most and now she has to live with it!

The one thing that I loved most about The Immortal Rules is Allie! She has strong survival instincts, she’s tough and she’ll throw herself in front of danger to protect others. And even though I already thought Allie was a heroine in the beginning of the book, the heroine she becomes by the end is not even a close comparison! Allie is majorly kick butt and she totally rocks!

One scene after another throughout the whole, entire book brings increasing heart-pumping horror, intensity, action, tragedy…and betrayal! And those betrayals were the hardest parts of the story for me to swallow…because each and every time Allie was faced with ANOTHER betrayal, my heart broke for her. And of course the best part of the story is the beautiful but complicated romance that progresses throughout the book.

This book was astonishing, and Julie Kagawa proves once again how truly creative she is.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club, and Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find not just something to live for, but something to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

April 10, 2012

Publisher's Summary: The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.

Enter to win a signed copy of Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr!!! This giveaway is open for US Shipping only. Please read my Official Giveaway Rules before entering and then simply fill out the form to enter! Giveaway ends April 10, 2012 at 11:59 EST! *Ended*

April 9, 2012

Publisher’s Summary: Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My take: Even though I’ve been getting mixed opinions about Hemlock, I started reading it with an open mind and discovered that I actually really liked it! I was immediately drawn to the story from the very first page.

One of the things I loved about Hemlock is that it’s not only an Urban Fantasy but also a murder mystery! I loved how I was swept into all the crazy left and right story twists while Mackenzie was investigating who killed her best friend! Twits like… Who is a werewolf? What really happened the night Amy died? Who, if anyone, should Mackenzie trust? There is one surprise after another all the way through Hemlock and the end even has a pretty awesome twist!!!

The characters in Hemlock are all pretty likable. Considering everything that Mackenzie had to go through from her past and now present…she is one tough chick! So, even though I’d like to tell you more about the other characters I liked, I think doing that would spoil the story for you. Because, while reading Hemlock, I found that I wanted to like each of the characters, but at the same time I wasn’t really sure if I could or should trust ANY of them. And as far as the romance goes, I of course fell for the “other” guy!

If you like a book with werewolves and/or a murder mystery then you should totally read this one! It’s really good.

Publisher's Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

Enter to win a signed copy of Everneath by Brodi Ashton!!! This giveaway is open for US Shipping only. Please read my Official Giveaway Rules before entering and then simply fill out the form to enter! Giveaway ends April 9, 2012 at 11:59 EST! **ENDED**

This giveaway runs for only 24 hours so check back tomorrow for the last Blogoversary giveaway!

Dear followers, fans and peeps! Some of the books I review on Magical Urban Fantasy Reads are provided to me for free by either the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. Please know that I am in NO WAY compensated for my reviews. All opinions are mine and I am not required to give a positive review in exchange for a free book! But some of the purchase links on my blog are monetized through places like Amazon, Book Depository or Barnes & Noble.

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